Closure-gate-actuating mechanisms for hopper discharge arrangement

ABSTRACT

A hopper discharge outlet arrangement including a frame and a closure member slidingly movable horizontally relative to a hopper discharge opening, the closure member being moved by the rotation of an operating rod having reels connected thereto on which flexible members are wound and unwound and are so anchored and positioned on the frame that in response to the direction of rotation the closure member is moved between open and closed positions with respect to said opening.

United States Patent Inventor Ernest J. Nagy Munster, Ind. 801,631

Feb. 24, 1969 May 4, 1971 Pullman Incorporated Chicago, 111.

Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee CLOSURE-GATE-ACTUATING MECHANISMS FOR HOPPER DISCHARGE ARRANGEMENT 5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 49/358, 49/361, 105/253, 105/300 Int. Cl E05f 11/04, B6ld 7/20 Field of Search 49/ [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,242,132 5/1941 .lodoin 49/361 3,433,178 3/1969 Floehr I05/300X Primary Examiner-J Karl Bell Attorneys-Hilmond O. Vogel and Wayne Morris Russell ABSTRACT: A hopper discharge outlet arrangement including a frame and a closure member slidingly movable horizontally relative to a hopper discharge opening, the closure member being moved by the rotation of an operating rod'having reels connected thereto on which flexible members are wound and unwound and are so anchored and positioned on the frame that in response to the direction of rotation the closure member is moved between open and closed positions with respect to said opening.

I PATENTEU-HAY 4|91| SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR ERN? J. NAGY ATT').

SUMMARY The present invention relates to the actuating mechanism for opening and closing a closure member or gate relative to the discharge opening of a hopper discharge arrangement. The gate may be of a conventional type comprising a single closure member or may be of a sectional construction as disclosed' in the aforementioned patent application. The present invention has for its primary object the provision of an improved actuating mechanism for sliding a closure gate into open and closed positions. The conventional actuating mechanism comprises rack-and-pinion structures which do not readily 'lend themselves to the ease of operation which is desired. The present invention comprises a rotatable element including reels which are carried on the gate to be moved, the reels having connected thereto flexible elements which are wound and unwound upon the reels and are fixedly connected to the frame of the gate arrangement so that upon rotation of the rotatable rod and during winding and unwinding the gate is moved in response thereto between open and closed positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved hopper discharge arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing one symmetrical portion of a hopper discharge arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken through a sectional gate;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, partly broken away to show asection of the hopper discharge arrangement;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-.-6 of FIG. 5; and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6. v 1

DESCRIPTIONOFTHE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A hopper discharge arrangement is designated generally by the reference character 10 and includes a frame 9 11 of generally rectangular configuration. The frame 11 comprises a plurality of upright sidewalls 12 connected to a front wall 13 g and to an intermediate vertical wall 14. The sidewalls 12 extheir lower edges turned inwardly to provide a lower ledge 20,

best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. A closure member or gate section designated at 21 is slidably positioned on the ledge 20. The closure member 21 includes a pair of rearwardly extending extensions 22 as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. As shown in FIG. 3, the gate section 21 has its forward edge in supported relation with respect to a front ledge 23 provided on the front wall 13. The closure member 21 is provided on opposite sides, as best shown in FIG.-6, with vertical lugs 24, as best shown in FIG. 4. The gate section 21 is also provided with downwardly extending brackets 25 having transversely extending openings 26 provided therein.

An operating rod 27 is rotatably mounted in the bracket openings 26 and is provided at its opposite ends with operating heads 27'. Each side of the operating rod 27 is provided with a pair of stop elements 28 and 29 suitably welded on the rod 27. A spacer element 30 is disposed between the bracket 25 and pivoted catch arms 31, suitably supported on the extension 22. The catch arms 31, as best shown in FIG. 3.'are each adapted I to engage a latch element 32 connected to underneath surfaces of ledges 20. I

A locking rod 33, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is suitably supported on the catch arms 31 as more fully disclosed in the aforementioned patent application. The locking rod 33 includes locking lugs 34 adapted to be pivoted in the position shown in FIG. 3 to engage the underneath surfaces of the ledges 20 and in one position preventing pivotal movement of the arms 31 which are in latching relation with respect to the latch 32. The rod 33 also includes a car seal assembly 35 which need not be further described.

The operating heads 27 are of conventional construction which may be engaged by the tool of an operator for rotating the said rod 27. Reel mechanisms 36 are disposed inwardly of the sidewalls 12 and reel mechanisms 36 are disposed outwardly of the walls 12 on opposite sides thereof. The reel mechanisms 36 are identical in construction and the same reference characters will be applied thereto. Each reel mechanism 36 is disposed in a housing 37 having at its upper end an opening 38, as shown in FIG. 7. A windup drum 39 is disposed within the housing 37 and is suitably keyed as indicated at 40 to the operating rod 27 for rotation therewith. Each of the reel mechanisms 36 also includes a flexible ribbonlike element 41 which has ends within the housings 37 suitably removably connected to the drum or spool 39 as indicated at 42 in FIG. 7. Each flexible ribbonlike element 41 extends through openings 43 provided in spaced wiper plates 44 suitably connected by means of bolt and nut connections 45 to flanges 46 forming part of the housing 37. The wiper plates 44 may be constructed of a suitable plastic such as Teflon, etc.

As best shown in FIG. I the windup drums 39 between walls 12 have their respective ribbonlike elements 41 extending rearwardly and have their end portions 42 connected by anchor brackets 47 to the upright member 15. In FIG. 1 it will be noted the housings 37 have been omitted to more clearly show the windup drum or spool elements 39.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the drums 39 disposed outwardly of the walls 12 have their respective ribbonlike elements 41- extend in adirection opposite to the ribbonlike elements 41 disposed within the sidewalls 12. All of the ribbonlike elements 41 extend in a longitudinal direction of movement of the gate 21. The ribbonlike elements 41 which are disposed outwardly of the sidewalls 12 have anchor brackets 47 suitably connected to outwardly extending brackets 48 carried on the sidewalls 12.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4, a closure member or gate section is designated by the reference character 49. The gate section 49 is slidingly supported on upper ledges 49 extending inwardly above the lower ledges 20. As best shown in FIG. 4, the front .end of the second 49 is provided with a transversely extending flat bar 50 having a suitable flexible seal 51 connected thereto. The seal 51 is adapted to engage a transverse seal bar 52 provided on the rear end of the gate section 21. In the closed position of the sections 21 and 49 the seal 51 is disposed between the transverse seal bars 50 and 52 for suitably sealing the opposite ends of the sections. The gate section 49 also includes downwardly projecting transversely spaced lugs 53. The gate section 49 is adapted to slide through an opening generally designated at 54 underneath the intermediate wall 14, the said opening 54 being adapted to be closed in the closed position of the sections 21 and 49 by means of a transverse closure strip 55 connected to the gate section 49 as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Comer guide tabs 56 are connected to the frame 11, and guide elements 57 are connected to the sidewalls 12 extending inwardly over the gate section 49.

THE OPERATION ln FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the gate sections 21 and 49 are shown in the closed position and the major portions of the ribbonlike elements 41 have been wound around the winding drums 39 disposed outwardly of the upright walls 12. Preferably the ribb'onlike elements 41 consist of a relatively thin spring steel material (or other material of similar characteristics) which is highly flexible and is easily wound about the drums 39. ln order to open the gate sections 21 and 49 the operating rod 27 is now rotated in a clockwise direction whereupon the inner ribbonlike members 41 will be wound around the inner drums 39 while simultaneously the ribbons 41 on the outer drums 39 are unwound therefrom. The extensions 22 now initially move the gate section 21 rearwardly until one-half of the discharge opening is uncovered whereupon the rear edge of the gate section 21 engages the lugs 53 whereupon the gate section 49 now also is moved conjointly rearwardly with the section 21. The inner ribbons 41 therefore are wound upon the inner drums 39 and the outer ribbons 41 become unwound from the outer drums 39 until the two sections, 21 and 49, are moved out of complete covering engagement with respect to the discharge opening 16. Thus the gate sections 21 and 49 are now disposed at their reannost or out-of-the-way position to one side of the discharge opening.

ln order to close the sections 21 and 49 the operating rod 27 is moved in a counterclockwise direction whereupon the outer drums 39 have the outer ribbonlike elements 41 wound thereupon and the inner ribbonlike elements 41 are unwound from the inner drums 39. During this rotation of the operating rod 27 the vertical lugs 24 initially engagethe ends of the gate section 49 to move the same to its closed position whereupon the continued movement of the gate 21 is effected to its fully closed position shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

1n the closed position, the catch arms 31 may be placed in the locked position shown in FIG. 3 wherein they are in engagement with the latch elements 32. The locking lugs 34 have been rotated into the position shown so that the sections 21 and 49 are securely locked in the closed position since the catch arms 31 cannot be pivoted out of engagement with the latch elements 12.

The wiper elements 44 serve to maintain the ribbonlike members 41 free of dust or other materials which might be present during an unloading operation so that the ribbonlike elements 41 are at all times free of such foreign materials which could interfere with the proper winding of said elements.

The hopper discharge arrangement may be connected to the hopper of a railway car or similar vehicle by conventional means so that it is disposed beneath the discharge ends of the hopper. Such assemblies are conventional in the art and need not further be described.

The sectional gate arrangement and sequential operation assures the quick operating ability of the arrangement as is more fully described in the aforementioned patent application. The winding drum 39 and flexible ribbonlike elements 41 also greatly improve the quick operating capabilities of the arrangement. The said arrangement can as readily be utilized with a single gate which is conventional in the art and the smooth operation and function of the operating mechanism will be of benefit in any type of sliding gate arrangement. It is readily discernible that the ribbons 41 and drums 39. permit quick and smooth operation of the gate sections 21 and 49 without danger of jamming of the mechanism by extraneous material such as is not unusual in the utilization of conventional rack and pinion arrangements.

lclaim:

1. An outlet arrangement for the discharge end of a hopper comprising a frame including upright walls connected to and being substantially coextensive with said discharge end to form a discharge opening, a closure means slidably positioned on said frame for movement between a position closing said opening and an open position whereupon said closure means is disposed to one side of said opening, the improvement comprising:

actuating means for moving said closure means including a first and second reel means rotatably mounted on said closure means, first and second longitudinally elongated flexible generally flat thin ribbon means connected respectively to transverse portions of the frame on opposite ends of the first and second reel means and connected to said first and second reel means respectively, and

rotatable means for rotating each reel means whereby during rotation of said rotatable means in one direction, said first flexible means is wound uponitself on said first reel means thereby moving said closure means to said open position and upon rotation of said rotatable means in the opposite direction said second flexible means is wound upon itself on said second reel means and said closure means in response thereto is moved to said closed position,

each flexible thin ribbon means having generally flat top and bottom surfaces and having a transverse vertical cross section of substantially greater width than depth attendant to providing for a speed of movement of the closure means generally directly proportional to the speed of rotation of said rotatable means and providing for stress forces of tension of the flexible ribbon means during movement of the closure means to be taken in the greater width of the cross section relative to the depth of the cross section.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1,

each reel means including a pair of transversely spaced reels,

said first and second flexible means each including a pair of generally parallel transversely spaced ribbon members extending in the same direction between a respective end of a respective pair of reels and a respective frame transverse portion and extending generally horizontally and longitudinally in the direction of movement of said closure means to provide for a generally direct longitudinal line of pull on the closure member to prevent askewing thereof.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said first and second flexible means each comprising a springlike material. 

1. An outlet arrangement for the discharge end of a hopper comprising a frame including upright walls connected to and being substantially coextensive with said discharge end to form a discharge opening, a closure means slidably positioned on said frame for movement between a position closing said opening and an open position whereupon said closure means is disposed to one side of said opening, the improvement comprising: actuating means for moving said closure means including a first and second reel means rotatably mounted on said closure means, first and second longitudinally elongated flexible generally flat thin ribbon means connected respectively to transverse portions of the frame on opposite ends of the first and second reel means and connected to said first and second reel means respectively, and rotatable means for rotating each reel means whereby during rotation of said rotatable means in one direction, said first flexible means is wound upon itself on said first reel means thereby moving said closure means to said open position and upon rotation of said rotatable means in the opposite direction said second flexible means is wound upon itself on said second reel means and said closure means in response thereto is moved to said closed position, each flexible thin ribbon means having generally flat top and bottom surfaces and having a transverse vertical cross section of substantially greater width than depth attendant to providing for a speed of movement of the closure means generally directly proportional to the speed of rotation of said rotatable means and providing for stress forces of tension of the flexible ribbon means during movement of the closure means to be taken in the greater width of the cross section relative to the depth of the cross section.
 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, each reel means including a pair of transversely spaced reels, said first and second flexible means each including a pair of generally parallel transversely spaced ribbon members extending in the same direction between a respective end of a respective pair of reels and a respective frame transverse portion and extending generally horizontally and longitudinally in the direction of movement of said closure means to provide for a generally direct longitudinal line of pull on the closure member to prevent askewing thereof.
 3. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said first and second flexible means each comprising a springlike material.
 4. The invention in accordance with claim 1, each of said reel means being supported within a housing including generally transversely elongated thin depthed apertured guide means through which the respective flexible thin ribbon means travel during rotation thereof.
 5. The invention in accordance with claim 4, said guide means each including wiper means engaging its respective flexible ribbon means. 